Code and container of system for preparing a beverage or foodstuff

A beverage or foodstuff preparation system comprising:

• a container for containing beverage or foodstuff material and comprising a plurality of codes, each code encoding preparation information for a foodstuff or beverage preparation process by the foodstuff or beverage preparation machine, the plurality of codes is formed in a grid with adjacent columns aligned or with adjacent columns offset,
• each code comprising a reference portion and a data portion, and each code has a peripheral length of 600-1600 μm,
• the reference portion comprising:
• three reference units defining a reference point;
• and
• a reference line extending from the reference point,
• the reference portion arranged within a circular encoding area;
• and
• the data portion comprising a data unit arranged on a virtual line, the virtual line extending from the reference point and arranged at an angle α to the reference line, the data unit arranged a distance from the reference point, and the distance encoding a parameter of the preparation information;
• wherein the plurality of codes is formed in a tessellating pattern;
• and
• a beverage or foodstuff preparation machine, the preparation machine comprising:
• a container processing subsystem to receive the container and to prepare a beverage or foodstuff therefrom according to the parameter encoded by the distance of the data unit from the reference point;
• a code processing subsystem operable to:
• obtain a digital image of each code of the container and process the digital image to decode the encoded preparation information;
• and
• a control subsystem operable to control the container processing subsystem using the decoded preparation information in order to prepare the beverage or foodstuff material into the beverage or foodstuff, and
• wherein the code processing subsystem is configured to decode the encoded preparation information by:
• locating the three reference units and the data unit of each code;
• identifying the three reference units and determining therefrom the reference point and the reference line extending from the reference point;
• determining for the data unit the distance along the virtual line from the reference point;
• and converting the determined distance into an actual value of a parameter using a stored relationship between the parameter and the determined distance.

A method of encoding preparation information, the method comprising forming a plurality of codes on:

• a container for a beverage or foodstuff preparation machine, the container containing a beverage or foodstuff material;
• or
• an attachment for attachment to the container or the beverage of foodstuff preparation machine,
• each code encoding preparation information for a foodstuff or beverage preparation process by the foodstuff or beverage preparation machine, the plurality of codes are formed in a grid with adjacent columns aligned or with adjacent columns offset,
• the method further comprising:
• arranging, for each code:
• three reference units to define a reference point;
• and
• a reference line extending from the reference point of a reference portion,
• the reference portion arranged within a circular encoding area;
• and
• encoding a parameter of the preparation information with a data portion of the code by arranging a data unit on a virtual line that extends from the reference point and arranged at an angle to the reference line, the data unit being arranged a distance extending along the virtual line from the intersection, and the distance encodes the parameter of the preparation information,
• wherein each code has a peripheral length of 600-1600 μm;
• wherein the plurality of codes is formed in a tessellating pattern.

A container for a foodstuff or beverage preparation machine, the container containing beverage or foodstuff material and comprising a plurality of codes, each code encoding preparation information for a foodstuff or beverage preparation process by the foodstuff or beverage preparation machine, the plurality of codes is formed in a grid with adjacent columns aligned or with adjacent columns offset,

• each code comprising a reference portion and a data portion, each code having a peripheral length of 600-1600 μm, wherein a ratio of the peripheral length of the code to a diameter of the container is 0.006 to 0.08:
• the reference portion comprising:
• three reference units defining a reference point;
• and
• a reference line extending from the point,
• the reference portion arranged within a circular encoding area;
• and
• the data portion comprising a data unit arranged on a virtual line, the virtual line extending from the reference point and arranged at an angle α to the reference line, the data unit arranged a distance from the reference point, and the distance encoding a parameter of the preparation information,
• wherein the three reference units and the data unit are all the same size;
• wherein the plurality of codes is formed in a tessellating pattern.